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What is PFOA?

PFOA stands for perfluorooctanoic acid or
perfluorooctanoate. Classified as a per-
and poly-fluoroalkyl substance (PFAS), PFOA is used
in some aqueous film-forming foams (AFFFs) used in firefighting and fire training.

In past decades, PFOA has also been used in
the manufacture of consumer goods such as microwave popcorn bags,
cleaning products and cookware such as Teflon.

There is significant datathat shows that PFOA is a carcinogen and is toxic to the liver and
the immune system. Research also shows it has a significant impact on thyroid
hormone levels. The damage is not limited to humans; toxic levels of PFOA have
been found in animals as well. This can again harm humans if those animals or their by-products (e.g. eggs) are consumed.

The US Environmental Protection Agency added PFOA to its list of emergent contaminants,
stating that it, and PFOS, are "extremely persistent in the environment
and resistant to typical environmental degradation processes. They are widely
distributed across the higher trophic levels and are found in soil, air and
groundwater at sites across the United States. The toxicity, mobility and
bioaccumulation potential of PFOS and PFOA pose potential adverse effects for
the environment and human health."

For information about PFOA from the
Australian Department of Health, click here.

matCARETM, produced by CRC CARE, can
remediate the impact of AFFF by irreversibly binding to the PFOA and
PFOS molecules, neutralising their toxicity immediately.